Rifle suggestions wanted

[Silver Phantom]

I want to do long range shooting and have a Remington 700 in 7mm Rem Mag that I use. However, with ammo prices where they are, I'm looking for a rifle in a different size that I still get good practice with that will best mimic long range shooting but doesn't cost so much per round to shoot.

Any recommendations on a rifle and caliber? I am currently thinking of a .223 bolt-action rifle with a longer barrel like a Model 700 SPS but am open to all other suggestions. Thanks

 

[T.Mihm]

Get a .22LR and shoot the barrel out of it. 200 yards with a .22LR is a humbling experience.

If you reload, I'd say .223 or .308, simply because components are readily available, cheap, and there is a plethora of information out there (especially for .308). .308 is a cartridge that's pretty hard to NOT shoot well.

-Travis

 

[TonyAngel]

I'd go with the .308. It isn't an optimal long range round, but it's better than the .223.

I also have to give another plug for a .22. I've learned more about shooting by shooting my rimfire than I have shooting anything else. As mentioned, shooting a .22 out to 200 ain't easy.

 

[kludge]

The 7mm Rem Mag is a fine round. If it's just a cost thing, then start reloading. Sierra Match King bullets in 130gr and 150gr cost ~$32/100.

The .223 is a good option too, but you can shoot a lot of 7mm bullets for the price of a new 700 SPS.

 

[TonyAngel]

What's the service life on a 7 Mag barrel? I thought it was pretty short. Otherwise, I would simply have suggested reloading.

 

[DeathByCactus]

.308.

Good jack of all trades round, plentiful match ammo/normal ammo selection at more affordable prices, great barrel life, provides enough umph for hunting.

My bro and I just received our .308 GAP's for long range target/any and all hunting based on the above.

 

[TonyAngel]

Great barrel life and long range capability is what sold me on the .308, not to mention that the round seems to come with an inherent accuracy. When I had my first rifle built, I didn't know which way to go, but my smith suggested that I go with a .308. He used Krieger barrels almost exclusively and was able to say with confidence that I would be able to get at least 5000 rounds out of the barrel before I have to have it set back and rechambered. At that rate, I'll be able to keep my barrel for the next three years before I have to worry about a rebarrel.

 

[Zombiphobia]

.308. Not too expensive, easy to find in abundance, versatile, and plenty of rifle options

 

[Silver Phantom]

I know absolutely NOTHING about reloading. But I'm willing to learn. Don't know where to start.

Is the life on a 7mm barrel pretty short? I've actually considered selling this and buying a nice .308 instead. It's only had about 50 rounds through it.

 

[TonyAngel]

If I remember right, the barrel life of a 7 mag is about half that of a .308.

The thing about barrel life is that what usually gets toasted in the barrel is the throat, not the rifling. Well, the rifling will go sooner or later, but the throat is what goes first. Depending on the profile of the barrel and whether the barrel is even worth the effort, you can have the barrel set back and a new chamber cut to get more life out of the barrel.

This is one of the reasons that I got the barrel profile that I chose. My barrel has a 1.25" diameter at the breech end and this diameter continues for 5" toward the muzzle. I can have my barrel set back quite a few times or until the rifling actually goes.

In any case, a 7 mag is going to need work much sooner than a .308 will. The extent of the work necessary will depend on a few variables.

What will be right for you will depend on how much you shoot. I've been averaging about 500-600 rounds of .308 a month, unless I get to make a trip to someplace fun. In that case, I could eat up 500-1000 rounds in a weekend.

You also have to keep in mind that although a 7 mag is likely better suited to shooting 1000 yards, you probably won't be doing that all of the time. The ideal thing would be to have more than one rifle.

Another thing about .308 is that it's just plain fun to shoot. It has enough recoil to give you that thrill, but not so much that it is painful to shoot.

 

[redneck2]

No one has bothered to ask, what is "long range"? I guess we assume maybe 750 yards+. Anything shorter than that can be handled by most any reasonable center fire with the right ammo.

I know absolutely NOTHING about reloading. But I'm willing to learn. Don't know where to start.

Go to the Reloading Forum here and read the "stickies". do that before asking questions. They're mostly already answered.

I use the Rem 700 in 7 mag. I hand load 162 grain A-Max over RL-22 with Federal mag primers. Other than the exotic calibers, it's about as good as it gets. BC is is well over .600.

In any event, the .308 suggestion is about the only way to go and keep factory ammo costs in line. You could also go with a 6.5 x 55, assuming you can still get reasonable cost ammo. Some guys use those in organized competition.

 

[kludge]

Barrel life is not just how many rounds you shoot but also how fast you shoot them.

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

Weatherby

Weatherby Vanguard .270, nice rifle; scope, flat forend, fast, long range, nice trigger, under 5 hundred bucks.

 

[jleyring]

+1 for the .308

I love the .223 but for long range i would go with .308

 

[ECVMatt]

I can't tell you how much I learned shooting my .223. I reload, so I could shoot a lot, but even the Wally World White Box Winchester were cheap enough to shoot without a ton of pain to the wallet. I know the .308 is better for long rang, but shooting the .223 out to four or five hundred yards will teach you as well. I love the .223 because it has very little recoil, muzzle blast, and report. You get cheap ammo, decent trajectory, and great accuracy.

If the .223 doesn't work for you, then I would look at a .22-250. Ammo price is comparable with the .308, but you get much less recoil and a much better trajectory than the .223.

 

[gotigers]

+1 for a .22lr to keep you at the range more. When i go to the range to shoot my ARs, i always take my Marlin Mod 60. I can turn a lot of money into smoke with my ARs. With the 22 i can shoot all day for a few bucks.

 

[USSR]

Silver Phantom,

Define "long range"? In the match shooting world, long range is 800 yards and beyond. If this is the case, go with the .308. If you are talking 600 yards and less, then the .223 will suffice.

Don